1. STEPPES
Steppe
- an area with treeless herbaceous vegetation in the temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. It stretches as a strip from west to east in Eurasia, from north to south in North America. Also found in South America and Australia. In the mountains it forms a high-altitude belt (mountain steppe); on the plains - a natural zone located between the forest-steppe zone in the north and the semi-desert zone in the south. In Russia, the steppes are located in the south of the East European and West Siberian plains.
Climatic conditions
Long hot and dry summers and cold snowy winters are typical. The temperature in summer is up to + 40 ° С, in winter - frosts up to 20-30 ° С. Dry winds often blow in summer, sometimes turning into dust storms. Rarely falling rains are torrential in nature. After the rain, the water flows in streams into the lowlands or evaporates. Precipitation 300- 500 mm in year. Small rivers and lakes often dry up.
In hot summer, the soil heats up strongly during the day, and cools down at night. Large temperature differences are observed.
Vegetation of the steppes of Russia
The climate is drier and hotter than in the forest zone.
The steppe soils are fertile. The soils of the northern steppes - powerful chernozems - contain the greatest amount of humus (8-10%). Compared with podzolic soils, in which the horizon containing 2-3% humus has a thickness of 10 12 cm , in powerful chernozems, the humus horizon reaches 70 cm ... To the south, chestnut soils are formed, poor in humus (2-4%).
But due to a lack of moisture, trees cannot grow here. Therefore, the steppes look like huge plains covered with rich herbaceous vegetation, which is characterized by a rapid change in color aspects (up to 12 times a year) and variability of the vegetation cover due to low rainfall.
Steppe plants have a number of characteristics. Perennial species prevail. Most of the stems are short, slightly protruding above the ground, and only leaves grow upward. After being trampled by animals, the grass sprouts lateral shoots with new leaves, so grazing promotes the growth of grasses.
The steppe blooms in spring. The blooming steppe makes an unforgettable impression. During this period, bulbous and tuberous plants appear: tulips, irises.
A lot of grasses grow in the steppe: feather grass, fescue, fine-legged, bluegrass, sheep, etc. As well as forbs; swing (tumbleweed), wormwood, thin-leaved peony. Almost all of them are perennials.
Feather grass and other plants are capable of withstanding severe drought. They have a developed boreal system, a light color of leaves that reflects sunlight, hairs on the leaves, which reduce the evaporation of water.
Types of steppes
Depending on the ratio of grasses and forbs, the following types of steppes are distinguished:
Real (typical) with a predominance of perennial turf grasses, mainly feather grass (the so-called feather grass steppes);
Meadow (meadow-steppe), or forb, steppes;
Desert (desertified) steppes with the participation of desert grasses (such as tumbleweeds) and half-shrubs (mainly wormwood and prutnyak), as well as ephemerals and ephemeroids.
Fragments of certain types of steppes can be found in the forest-steppe and semi-desert.
On different continents, the steppe has different names: in North America, prairies; in South America - or the pampas, and in the tropics - llanos. The analogue of South American llanos in Africa and Australia is the savannah. In New Zealand, the steppe is called tussoki.
Fauna of the steppes of Russia
The animals of the steppe have adapted well to the submerged conditions. The steppe of Russia is home to 50 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Most of the animals live in burrows. There they hide from the midday heat and in damp weather. Birds nest right on the ground, cubs are brood. With the onset of cold weather, animals such as marmots, gophers, badgers, hedgehogs hibernate. The gopher can hibernate in summer during periods of drought and lack of food. Most birds fly south. Rodents make supplies for the winter.
The animals have a patronizing yellow-brown color with speckles to hide, strong legs for fast running. In search of water, ungulates and birds can travel long distances. Other animals may be content with water from plants or other animals.
Animals are very careful, looking around, hiding, constantly monitoring the territory.
Insects are numerous. They feed on plants: grasshoppers - locusts, grasshoppers, steppe pod, praying mantis, butterflies, beetles, bumblebees and bees. Of the arachnids - tarantula.
Plants and insects feed onbirds:steppe lark, bustard, little bustard, gray partridge, demoiselle crane, hoopoe.
Predator birds: steppe eagle, buzzard, harrier, steppe kestrel.
Amphibians: frog frog, green toad, lake frog, sharp-faced frog.
Reptiles: nimble lizard, yellow-bellied snake, steppe viper,
Rodents: speckled gopher, red, bobak marmot, steppe pika, hamster, mole rat, kangaroo rat, mice and voles. There are many European hares and tolai, whose hind legs are longer than those of the white hares.
Ungulates - antelope saiga. Gone are the bull tour and the tarpan wild horse,
Beasts of prey: fox korsak, wolf, jackal, ferret, ermine, weasel, dressing.
Protection of the steppe
Everywhere the steppes were subjected to a very strong and prolonged anthropogenic impact, mainly due to the fertile chernozem or chestnut soils on which agriculture developed. A significant part of the steppes is plowed up, in connection with which soil erosion has increased and dust storms have become more frequent. There are almost no typical steppes left in the world, but songs have long been composed about the expanses of the steppe, about the smells of steppe grasses. As reference natural landscapes, individual sections of the steppe are protected in reserves and national parks, including the Central Chernozem Reserve, the Ukrainian Steppe Reserve, etc. depressions (Minusinskaya depression, Oymyakonskaya depression, etc.), and in the mountains of Central Asia.
The natural conditions and climate of the steppes are very favorable for human life. The main occupations of the indigenous population are irrigated agriculture (the cultivation of grain and industrial crops prevails) and grazing.
2. STEPPES AND FOREST STEPPES.
Forest-steppe characterized by a combination of forest and steppe vegetation, gray forest and chernozem soils. The forest-steppe stretches from the border with Ukraine to the foothills of Altai. To the east of Altai, the relief becomes elevated; therefore, the forest-steppe was formed only in intermontane basins in separate, isolated areas.
Cold winters beyond the Urals prevent the penetration of oak to the east. Therefore, on the East European Plain, forests in the forest-steppe zone are represented byoak groves,and in the West Siberian lowland - the so-called birchwith pegs,On the East European Plain, gray forest soils are formed under small-leaved and broad-leaved forests, and leached chernozems under the forb steppes. In the West Siberian forest-steppe, meadow-chernozem soils prevail, forming on poorly drained plains. In the depressions around the lakes, special soils are common - salt licks.
The location of the forest-steppe between the forest and the steppe determines the peculiar and complex composition of its fauna. Here, contact and mutual penetration of animals of two sharply different zones - forest and steppe - take place. The northern regions of the forest-steppe are characterized by a predominance of forest animals, and the southern ones - by steppe faunas.
3. SAVANNAH
Savannah - (Spanish.sabana), a type of zone common between rainforests and deserts. It develops in conditions of a clear change of dry and rainy seasons and with an amount of precipitation of 250- 500 mm in year. In the southern hemisphere of Africa, it rains from January to May.
In Africa, it occupies about 40% of the mainland. Analogs of the African savannah are found in South America (campos, llanos, pampas), in northeastern Australia and in South Asia, prairies in North America.
It is characterized by a combination of grass cover (elephant grass, bearded vultures) with single trees and shrubs (baobab, umbrella-shaped acacias, etc.). The African savannah is characterized by an abundance of large herbivores and predatory animals. Herbivores feed on different types of plants, which ensures their close proximity and diversity of species.
Herbivorous animals of Africa: antelopes (kudu, wildebeest, oryx, springbok, impala), gazelles (Granta), giraffes, hippos, elephants, zebras, ostriches, bustards, guinea fowl, weavers, secretary bird, dragons. Many birds feed on insects, which are abundant, including locusts, flies, and mosquitoes. The secretary bird - snakes. Antelopes feed on grasses, while giraffes (acacia) and elephants (baobabs) feed on tree shoots.
Pangolins live - armored mammals, insectivores.
Omnivores are warthogs.
Predators: lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, African wild dogs, vultures. Felines watch for prey from an ambush, and dogs - they drive it.
Foxes live in Africa. Kenyan big-eared foxes feed on insects, arachnids and fruits. Cape (South African) fox lives in the desert.
The savannas are home to many rodents that build burrows underground. In Africa - meerkats, in South America - mara, in North America - gophers and prairie dogs.
The pampas of South America are inhabited by grivat wolves, pampass deer, guanacos, mara - rodent, armadillos, and ostriches of the rhea.
In the steppes of Australia - kangaroos and wild dogs, dingoes, emu, parakeets and budgies, monitor lizard.
Termites are common in the savannas of Africa and Australia.
Savannah is greatly changed by man. Cotton, peanuts, sugarcane, etc. are cultivated on the plowed lands of the savannah. National parks occupy a large area on the territory of savannahs, for example, the Serengeti (southeast of Africa).
Additional material
ANIMAL WORLD STEPPE
CORSAC (Vulpes corsac), a carnivorous mammal of the wolf family of foxes. Body length 50-60 cm, tail 25-35 cm. Large, wide at the base of the ears. Winter coat is very fluffy, silky, light color.
Korsak lives in the steppes and semi-deserts of Eurasia; in Russia - from the North Caucasus to Transbaikalia (occasionally in the southwestern regions of Ukraine). It feeds on small animals, mainly rodents, hares, marmots, birds, reptiles, as well as insects and carrion. For housing, Korsaks use abandoned burrows.
Korsak is monogamous. The rut occurs in January-February, the gestation period is about 50 days. There are usually 3-6 blind puppies in a brood (they see their sight on days 14-16).
Korsak exterminates many harmful rodents. The object of the hunt, but the hide is of little value. In North America, a close species is the American corsac, one of the subspecies of which (Vulpes velox hebes) is listed in the International Red Book.
LINING (Vormela peregusna), a predatory mammal of the mustelidae family. Body length 26-35 cm, tail 11-20 cm; weight up to 580 g. In terms of body structure, the dressing is similar to ferrets, but differs in thicker fur, large ears, variegated color - red or brown spots on a yellow background. On the face of the animal there is a sharply outlined dark mask and two transverse stripes.
The dressing is widespread in Southeast Europe and Asia, mainly in steppes, semi-deserts and deserts, it is found in the mountains at an altitude of up to 3000 m. It settles in abandoned holes of rodents, less often in thickets of bushes, in vegetable gardens and in villages. The animal feeds on rodents (gerbils, ground squirrels), lizards, birds, as well as berries and fruits.
The rut takes place in the summer. Cubs weighing about 3.5 g appear in the spring. They grow rapidly and by the middle of summer they reach half the size of an adult. The range of dressings is shrinking. Two subspecies: South Russian dressing (Vormela peregusna peregusna) and Semirechye dressing (Vormela peregusna pallidior) are protected.
BURIAL Eagle (burial eagle; Aquila heliaca), a bird of prey of the hawk family. Length about 80 cm, wingspan about 2 m; weight up to 3 kg. The burial ground is widespread in Southern Europe, North-West Africa and Asia. In Russia, it is found in the southern strip of the European part and southern Siberia. It is a migratory bird, inhabits forest-steppe, areas of woody vegetation in the steppe, semi-desert and in some places even deserts (Central Asia). This eagle is found in the plains and in the lower belt of the mountains; often sits on burial mounds (hence the name). The main food of the burial ground is small mammals, especially ground squirrels; sometimes he attacks hares, and does not neglect mouse-like rodents (voles). In addition, it feeds on birds, especially young ones, and also eats carrion. The burial ground is a rare bird, it is guarded. The Spanish subspecies (Aquila heliaca adalberti) is included in the International Red Data Book.
KRASAVKA (Demoiselle crane, common belladonna, Anthropoides virgo), a bird of the crane family. The smallest member of the family, the growth of belladonna is 95-97 cm, weight is 2.5-3.5 kg. The head, neck and chest are black, the rest of the plumage is gray-gray. A special decoration of the bird is the bunches of long, unraveled white feathers above the eyes, which flutter in the form of sultans or braids.
Belladonna is an inhabitant of dry steppe and semi-desert regions of Europe, Asia and northwestern Africa. It used to nest en masse in the open landscapes of Hungary and Romania, in the steppes of Ukraine and the Ciscaucasia, in the Volga region, Kalmykia and other regions of the Caspian region, in Kazakhstan, in Altai, in Tuva and Transbaikalia. In the 20th century, the number of these cranes decreased sharply, and you can find Demoiselle for nesting in any noticeable amount only in the dry steppes of the Caspian region, especially in Kalmykia, and in some places in Western and Central Kazakhstan. The belladonna fully retained its numbers in Mongolia, where this bird enjoys the special patronage of nomadic pastoralists.
Belladonna is a typical migratory bird. Most Demoiselles from the European part of the range winters in Africa, mainly in the Nile Valley. Birds from Kazakhstan, Transbaikalia and Mongolia fly to India and Southeast Asia for wintering. At wintering grounds, bellados accumulate in huge numbers, sleeping in shallow waters and flat river islands, and during the day they fly to feed on harvested fields of wheat, millet and other grain crops.
The favorite nesting places of belladonna are dry grass-wormwood steppes, where the grassy cover does not form a continuous turf, but grows in small clumps, between which areas of bare saline soil are visible. In general, belladonna is unpretentious and easily put up with a continuous, but low grassy cover, and even with fallow and abandoned fields. At the end of the 20th century, she began to nest on arable land cultivated for wheat, which she definitely avoided in the past.
Belladonna's nest is a small hole with practically no lining, but surrounded by a roller of pieces of saline crust, sheep droppings or small pebbles that the bird often brings from afar. A clutch of belladonna consists, as a rule, of 2 eggs, but clutches of 3 eggs are also known. They lay eggs in mid-April, chicks appear in May, although breeding is sometimes delayed. Belladonna eggs, like those of other cranes, have an olive-brownish main background, over which medium-sized rusty-brownish spots are scattered in disorder. Belladonna families do not break up until the next breeding season. The number of Demoiselles is decreasing due to the degradation of nesting biotopes in connection with plowing and increased grazing. Belladonna is a rare bird species and is protected.
THE ANIMAL WORLD OF SAVANNA
BAOBAB, tree of the bombax family, characteristic of the savannas of Africa. The trunk is up to 25 m in circumference (sometimes up to 40 m). Lives up to 5 thousand years. The fruits are edible. The fibers of the bark are used to make ropes and coarse fabrics. Bred in the tropics.
ANTYLOPE, a group of cloven-hoofed animals of the bovid family; is not a systematic category and unites subfamilies that are distant both in origin and in appearance: duikers, pygmy antelopes (Neotraginae), scorchorn antelopes, cow antelopes (Alcelaphinae), saber-horned antelopes (Hyppotraginae), water goats) (Reduncinae).
Horns in most species are only in males. They live mainly in Africa (wildebeest, congoni, horse antelopes, oryx) and Asia (nilgau, four-horned antelope, gazelle, saiga, chamois). Many antelopes are an object of hunting (meat, leather). The number of species is declining, some are under protection. A number of species have survived mainly in national parks.
Hippopotamus (hippopotamus, Hippopotamidae), a family of artiodactyl mammals of the non-ruminant suborder; includes two genera, each of which has one species - the common hippopotamus (hippopotamus, Hippotamus amphibius) and the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis).
The disproportionately small limbs of a hippo with four fingers can hardly support the weight of the animal's body, so hippos spend most of their time in the water (hence the name of the common hippopotamus, which in Latin means "amphibian hippopotamus"). In the common hippopotamus, the body length is up to 4.5 m, weight is 2-3.2 tons (sometimes up to 4 tons). The pygmy hippopotamus has a body length of 1.7-1.8 m, weight up to 250-270 kg. The large mouth of the hippopotamus stretches from ear to ear. Large, up to 64 cm teeth grow throughout life. The nostrils, small hard ears, and eyes that sit on protruding eye sockets are positioned in such a way that the hippopotamus can breathe, look and hear while remaining underwater. The skin is deprived of hair (coarse hair on the face and tail). The glands located in the skin of the animal secrete blood-red sweat, which protects the skin from swelling and drying out in water.
Until the 19th century, the common hippopotamus inhabited almost all of Equatorial Africa, but now it has been exterminated in most places and has survived only in Central and East Africa, mainly in the national parks of Virunga (Congo), Rwenzori and Kabalega (Uganda). Hippos live in rivers and lakes, preferring shallow bodies of water with sloping banks and near-water vegetation. The daylight hours are spent in the water, where they sleep on the shallows and spits, and after sunset they go to feed. They return to the reservoir just before dawn. An amazing sight is the deep (up to half a meter) hippopotamus trails, the width of which corresponds to the distance between the legs of the animal. Many generations of animals have knocked them out in solid ground and even in stone. A frightened hippopotamus runs along this track at high speed, and it is better not to be on his road at this moment.
Hippos feed on coastal and aquatic plants, but on occasion they do not refuse insects, reptiles and other animals. The surface of the molars of hippos is not flat, but has obtuse protrusions, which indicates omnivorousness. Hippos swim well, can dive, walk and even run along the bottom. Under water, their nostrils are blocked by special fincters, which allows the hippopotamus to stay under water for up to 5 minutes. They are united in small (up to 20 individuals) herds, usually consisting of an old male and 10-20 females and cubs. Fights often take place between hippos for the possession of harems. Such battles last up to 2 hours and sometimes end in the death of one of the rivals.
The mating period is twice a year, the pregnancy lasts 240 days. The cub is born in water and weighs 45-50 kg with a body length of 120 cm. Young hippos often fall prey to predators (lions also attack adult hippos). Despite the fact that animals are slow and clumsy on land, some hippos migrate long distances.
Africans have long been using hippopotamus meat for food (it tastes like veal), the skin is used as a material for grinding discs (even diamonds are polished on such discs), fangs are not inferior in beauty to ivory. The pygmy hippopotamus inhabits the slow-flowing water bodies of Central Africa. He leads a secretive and solitary life. A baby hippopotamus born on land weighs about 5 kg. The pygmy hippopotamus is rare, listed in the International Red Book.
LEO (Panthera leo), a predatory feline mammal. Body length up to 2.4 m, tail up to 1.1 m; weight up to 280 kg. The body is powerful, slim and lean. The head is extremely massive with a rather long muzzle. The paws are very strong. The tail is long, with a tassel at the end. Adult males have a characteristic mane that covers the neck, shoulders and chest. On the whole body, the hair is short, brownish-yellow in color, the mane is darker.
The lion was once widespread, until the 8-10th centuries it could be found in southern Europe, as well as throughout Africa, in Asia Minor and South Asia. Now it has survived only in Central Africa and in the state of Gujarat in India. The lion lives in open spaces or in thin thickets, in savannas, steppes and forest-steppes. He is found not only alone, but also in groups (prides). Such a group usually includes 1-2 adult males, several adult females, young animals. During the day, lions rest, stretching out in the grass or climbing a low tree, hunt mainly at dusk. Most often, a predator attacks prey from an ambush, sneaking up to it, and usually the role of hunters is performed by lionesses, lighter and more mobile. In a swift throw, they knock their prey off their feet and instantly dig their teeth into the neck. Having missed, the lion does not pursue prey, but remains to wait for a new one. A lion can kill any large animal, except for an elephant and a rhinoceros, but it can eat both rodents and lizards, even carrion. Common prey for lions are zebras and antelopes, and livestock on occasion. There are known cases of attacks by lions (usually sick and decrepit) on people.
The mating period is not confined to a certain time of the year and is accompanied by bloody fights of males. Pregnancy lasts 105-112 days. In the brood, there are most often 3 lion cubs, less often 2, 4 or 5, very small ones, about 30 cm in length. A cave, crevice or pit serves as a lair. The Asian lion subspecies is listed in the International Red Book.
The GEPARD (Acionyx jubatus), a predatory feline mammal, has a dry, lean body 123-150 cm long, with a small head and long and slender legs, the claws on which do not retract, like in other felines. A long, strong tail (up to 75 cm) acts as a balancer when running. The fur is short, thin. The general color tone is yellowish, sandy. All over the skin, except for the belly, there are densely scattered dark solid spots.
The cheetah is widespread in the flat deserts and savannas of Asia (probably preserved only in Iran) and Africa; in ancient times it was settled more widely. In the south of Turkmenistan, it was found until the 1960s (probably died out). Russian chronicles mention the Pardus beast, similar to the cheetah.
The cheetah is the fastest animal; catching up with prey, it can reach speeds of up to 120 km / h over short distances. The cheetah hunts mainly during the day or at dusk, sometimes trapping prey at the watering hole. It feeds on ungulates, and as additional food - hares, small animals and birds. The cheetah is kept singly or in pairs. Pregnancy lasts 84-95 days. There are 1-4 cubs in the litter, which are born blind, uniformly colored. In India and Western Asia, cheetahs were previously used to hunt antelope. The animal is small in number, easily tamed, and reproduces in captivity. The cheetah is listed in the International Red Book. The life of cheetahs was described in her book The Spotted Sphinx by naturalist writer Joy Adamson.
GIRAFFE (Giraffa camelopardalis) - the only species of artiodactyl mammal of the genus of giraffes of the family of giraffes, the tallest of the existing animals; body length 3-4 m, height at the withers up to 3.7 m, height 5-6 m, weight 550-750 kg. The giraffe has a relatively small head on a disproportionately long neck, sloping back, long legs and tongue (up to 40-45 cm). The giraffe has only seven cervical vertebrae, like other mammals. Both males and females have small horns (sometimes two pairs) covered with black hair. Often there is an additional unpaired horn in the middle of the forehead. There is no gallbladder, the cecum is very long. The front legs are longer than the hind legs, the second and fifth toes are absent. The hooves are low and wide. The fur is dense, short. The spotted coloration of giraffes from different places varies greatly. A pale yellow or brown background with dark spots is possible. Young animals are always lighter in color than old ones. A bun of long hair at the end of the tail.
The most famous subspecies is the Masai giraffe, in which chocolate brown irregularly shaped spots are scattered over a yellowish background. A very beautiful subspecies reticulated giraffe, whose body is, as it were, covered with a golden net. Albino giraffes are rare. The exotic coloration helps the animal to camouflage among the trees.
Giraffes have the highest blood pressure among mammals (three times that of humans). In comparison with a human, his blood is thicker and contains twice as many blood cells. The heart of a giraffe weighs 7-8 kg and is capable of pumping blood (up to 60 liters) into the brain to a height of 3.5 m. To drink water, the giraffe has to spread its front legs wide and lower its head low. With a high level of blood pressure in this position, cerebral hemorrhage does not occur only because the giraffe has a closing valve system in the neck vein near the brain that restricts blood flow to the head.
The giraffe lives in savannas and dry woodlands of Africa south of the Sahara. He leads a daytime lifestyle, is able to move at speeds up to 50 km / h, and also jump over obstacles, swim well. The giraffe rarely lives alone, usually forms small herds (7-12 individuals), less often up to 50-70. The composition of a herd is so random that it rarely includes the same animals for two days in a row. Older males live apart. Sometimes there are battles between males for primacy, but they are never fierce. Giraffes sometimes even form common herds with antelopes and ostriches.
High growth allows the giraffe to feed on leaves, flowers, young shoots of trees from the upper layer of vegetation. A giraffe can, rearing up, get food from a height of up to 7 m. It feeds in the morning and in the afternoon, spends the hottest hours half asleep, chewing gum. The animal feeds mainly on young shoots and buds of umbrella acacias, mimosas, and other trees and shrubs. With its long tongue, a giraffe can pluck leaves from branches covered with large thorns. It is inconvenient for a giraffe to get land plants, for this he needs to kneel down.
There is a strict hierarchy within a herd of giraffes. The lowest in rank cannot cross the road of the highest; he always lowers his neck a little in his presence. Giraffes are peaceful animals. Only when defending social status, it is possible to clarify the relationship. Male giraffes show their horns to each other, and then exchange blows of the body and neck. The duel is always bloodless. The terrible blow with the front hooves, with which the giraffe can successfully repel the attack of the lion, is not used during a duel. The defeated one is never driven out of the herd, as is the case with other herd animals. The giraffe has keen hearing and keen eyesight. He moves, at the same time putting out his legs, located on one side of the body. The alarmed animal goes into a gallop at a speed of up to 60 km / h, can jump over obstacles and swim. To sleep, the giraffe lies on the ground, pulling the front legs and one of the hind legs under it. The head is placed on the other hind leg, extended to the side. Sleep at night is often interrupted, with a deep sleep duration of 20 minutes per night.
Giraffes rut in July-August; males often fight for the female. The duration of pregnancy in giraffes is about 15 months. One cub is born about 2 m in height, which is able to stand up almost immediately after birth. During childbirth, members of the herd surround the expectant mother with a ring, protecting from possible danger, and then greet the newborn with a touch of their noses. Lactation lasts 10 months. The giraffe becomes sexually mature at the age of three years. The giraffe has few natural enemies. Occasionally he becomes a victim of a lion, and sometimes he dies while feeding, entangling his head in the branches. In a number of places, the giraffe has been completely exterminated as a result of fishing for meat and skins and has survived mainly in national parks.
Rhinos (rhinoceroses, Rhinoceratidae) are a family of mammals of the order of equids, which includes four genera, which include five species - white, black, Javanese, Sumatran and Indian rhinos. The length of their body is about 2-4 m, the tail is 60-76 cm, the height at the withers is 1-2 m, the weight is up to 3.6 tons. The constitution is heavy. The head is large, elongated. The eyes are small. Vision is weak, but very keen sense of smell. The upper lip is highly developed and mobile. The ears are long, oval, with a small tuft of hair at the top. The horns sitting on the nasal and frontal bones are layered formations, similar in structure to the horny part of the hooves. The neck is short and thick. The limbs are three-toed, massive and short. The tail is thin, at the end of the brush hair. The skin is thick, in some places it forms folds. Hair is very sparse or absent (with the exception of the Sumatran rhino). Body coloration from gray to brown and black. The testes are located in the abdominal cavity.
Modern rhinos are descended from the early Tertiary group of running rhinos (Hyracnyidae) of America, which resembled ancient horses. Among these rhinos were animals of both light constitution and heavy, short-legged ones. Real rhinos appeared in the Eocene and by the Oligocene formed a large number of genera and species. Various groups of rhinos were especially widespread in Eurasia.
Even in the early Quaternary period, a large rhinoceros Merka (Diceros merki) lived in the forests of Eurasia, Elasmotherium survived almost to the Holocene, and only in the 10th century the woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis), covered with long hair, died out. The remains of the corpses of these animals have been found in many northern regions of Europe and Asia. The woolly rhinoceros ate the needles of spruce, fir, larch, willow, birch, lingonberry and cereals.
Modern rhinos live in tropical regions of Africa (two species) and South and Southeast Asia (three species). They prefer savannahs, bushes along the edges of the forest. Animals keep one by one, during the breeding season - in pairs. White rhinos are found in groups of up to 18 individuals. Rhinos are active in the evening, night and early morning. During hot times of the day, they rest in small lakes, often filled with liquid mud. They are herbivorous animals. There is no strict seasonality in breeding. Rhino rhinos run every 1.5 months. At this time, the female chooses the male. The duration of pregnancy is about one and a half years. Rhino females give birth to one (rarely two) cubs once every 2-3 years. The newborn weighs about 65 kg, it is pink in color, without a horn. Soon after birth, the cub is able to follow the mother and stays with her until the next baby is born. Sexual maturity occurs in the period from 3-4 years (in females) to 7-9 years (in males). Life expectancy is 50-60 years. The number of rhinos is declining, mainly due to poaching (for the sake of horns, which in eastern countries is credited with healing). There are known cases of breeding of rhinos in captivity.
HYENAS (Hyaenidae), a family of carnivorous mammals; includes four types. Hyenas are rather large animals: their body length is 55-165 cm, their tail is 20-33 cm, and their weight is 10-80 kg. They have a short body. The head is massive, in most species with powerful jaws. The legs are strong, somewhat bent. The front legs are longer than the hind legs. Real hyenas have 4 toes on both legs, the earthen wolf has 5. Claws are long, but blunt, convenient for digging. The coat is coarse, shaggy, on the ridge in the form of a long standing mane. The general color tone is dirty, yellowish-gray, or brown, with a striped or spotted pattern all over the body or only on the legs.
Hyenas are common in Africa, Anterior, Central and Southwest Asia. One species is the striped hyena (body length about 1 m, tail about 30 cm) in Transcaucasia and Central Asia. The smallest species is the aardwolf (Proteles cristatus). The length of its body is up to 80 cm, the tail is up to 30 cm. It is distributed in East and South Africa. The aardwolf does not feed on carrion, unlike other species, but mainly on insects and their larvae (termites), less often on small mammals and birds. An important remedy is the secretion of the anal glands, which scares away predators. The spotted hyena is the largest member of the hyena family. The number of hyenas is declining due to the decrease in wild ungulates, the corpses of which hyenas mainly feed on. The brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) and the striped hyena are listed in the International Red Data Book.
ZEBRA, a group of equine mammals of the horse genus; includes three modern and one extinct species (quagga). The body length of zebras is 2 - 2.4 m, weight is up to 350 kg, height at the withers is 1.2 - 1.4 m, the length of the tail with elongated hair at the end is 45 - 57 cm. Coloring - alternating dark and light stripes in light gray or brownish body tone. This color makes zebras less visible, especially in the savannah. Zebras are typical inhabitants of the plains, steppes and mountainous regions of Africa. Large, horse-sized, savannah, or burchell's zebra (Equus burchelli) is distributed from the southern tip of Africa to the Great Lakes region. There are several subspecies of savannah zebra, differing in the nature of the arrangement of stripes on the body and the general background of the skin - Chapman's zebra (Equus burchelli antiquorum), Selous zebra (Equus burchelli selousi), Boehme's zebra (Equus burchelli bohme). Large (height at withers 160 cm), with narrow, closely spaced stripes, the Grevy zebra (Equus grevyi) is found from Ethiopia and Somalia to northern Kenya, often combining in herds with Burchella zebra. It was named in honor of French President Jules Grevy, to whom a copy of this animal was presented. Quagga lived in South Africa until the end of the 19th century, completely exterminated around 1880.
All zebras keep in small herds or singly. They are often seen in mixed herds with wildebeests or giraffes. Zebras run less quickly than horses and are less enduring. They feed on herbaceous plants.
Zebras don't have a specific breeding season. Pregnancy lasts 360-370 days. One foal is born, more often in rainy seasons. Already 10-15 minutes after birth, the cub takes its first steps. In the first days, the mother does not allow anyone closer than 3 m to him.
All zebras have a restive nature and, on occasion, can fend for themselves. They defend themselves from enemies with their teeth and hooves, more often the front ones. As a rule, old and sick animals become victims of predators (mainly lions). The mountain zebra (Equus zebra), which resembles a donkey with its long ears and emitted sounds, is now very rare and, like Grevy's zebra, is included in the International Red Book. Some zebra species are acclimatized in Ukraine in the Askania-Nova nature reserve. They are tamed with great difficulty.
OSTRICH (Struthio camelus) - the only species of the order of ostrich-like birds (Struthioniformes) of the superorder of running birds; includes several subspecies. The ostrich is the largest living bird - height up to 2.44 m, weight up to 136 kg (usually 50). Two-toed legs. These flightless birds are characterized by a small size of the sternum and the absence of a keel, underdeveloped forelimbs and pectoral muscles. The hind legs are long and strong. The structure of the feather is primitive: the barbs are almost not adhered to each other, therefore dense plates - the fan - are not formed. There is a bare patch of thickened skin on the chest, the so-called pectoral corns. The bird rests on it when it lies down. Unlike other birds, the ostrich has a closed pelvis, since the ends of the pubic bones grow together in it. The neck is covered with short down. The color of the plumage in males is black, and the flight and tail feathers are white, the legs are neoprene. The female is smaller and painted uniformly in grayish-brown tones.
In Africa, ostriches appeared two million years ago. In prehistoric times, ostriches lived throughout Africa, southern Europe, Asia Minor and China. Until 1941, ostriches were also found in Arabia. Currently inhabits open treeless areas of Africa. Introduced to the south of Australia, where feral ostriches are found. These birds feed mainly on plant foods - grass, leaves, fruits, in addition, small animals and insects. Stones and even metal objects can be found in the stomach of an ostrich. Ostriches can go without water for a long time, but on occasion they willingly drink and love to swim.
Most zoologists are inclined to believe that this is a polygamous bird, although chicks are often led by two parents - a male and a female. More often ostriches can be found in small groups of 3-5 birds. In this case, there is only one male, the rest are females. During the non-breeding season, ostriches sometimes gather in herds of up to 20–30 birds, and immature birds in southern Africa, up to 50–100 individuals. During the breeding season, the male sits on long legs, rhythmically beats his wings, throws his head back and rubs the back of his head on his own back. At this time, his neck and legs turn bright red. Then the male rushes with huge steps after the fleeing female.
Protecting their territory, males sometimes roar like lions. Almost all care for the offspring lies with the male. He scrapes a flat nesting hole in the sand, where several females lay their eggs. Usually they lay eggs, in the literal sense of the word, under the nose of the male sitting on the nest, and he already rolls them under himself. In North Africa, ostrich nests are found containing 15–20 eggs, in the south of the mainland 30, and in East Africa up to 50–60 eggs. A mass of straw-yellow (sometimes darker, sometimes white) eggs with a very thick shell from 1.5 to 2 kg.
At night, the male incubates the eggs, the female sits on them during the day, but not all day. Often during the day, eggs are warmed up by the rays of the sun. Duration of incubation is more than forty days. Sometimes ostrich eggs become prey for predators. Ostriches can often be seen in the same herd with zebras and antelopes. Due to their visual acuity and being very careful, ostriches serve as “watchmen” in such herds. In case of danger, they run swiftly, taking steps of 4–5 m and developing speeds of up to 70 km / h. An angry ostrich is dangerous to humans. A fleeing ostrich can disappear from the eyes of the observer because it lies down, pressing itself to the ground and stretching its neck. This is probably the reason for the stories that a frightened ostrich hides its head in the sand.
Ostrich feathers have long been highly prized. Ostriches were bred by the ancient Egyptians, who valued ostrich feathers as a symbol of power. Due to excessive hunting, the number of ostriches has decreased, however, now the species is not threatened with destruction thanks to ostrich farms in Africa, Australia, California and Europe. Not only ostrich feathers are on sale, but also their huge eggs, which are bought by restaurants.
SECRETARY (Sagittarius serpentarius) is the only bird of the family of secretaries of the order Falconiformes. Body length is about 1.2 m, height is about 1 m, wingspan is more than 2 m. There are several backward-directed feathers on the head (reminiscent of a goose feather behind the scribe's ear). The secretary's claws, unlike other birds of prey, are blunt and wide, adapted for running, and not for grabbing prey. The plumage is contrasting, mostly white or light gray, the flight feathers and legs (“trousers”) are black, the unfeathered “glasses” around the eyes are orange or yellow.
The secretary bird is widespread in the savannas of Africa (south of the Sahara), it is protected everywhere. It feeds on small animals - lizards, rodents, snakes, locusts, termites. He gets food on the ground. The secretary kills large prey with blows of his legs and beak. Secretaries spend the night sitting in the trees, where they also arrange their nests. They settle in separate pairs; large nests are built on thorny acacias or other low trees. In clutch there are 2-3 bluish-white eggs, incubation lasts about 45 days. Juveniles leave the nest at the age of 65–80 days. Parents bring prey to the nest not in their paws, but only in the goiter, belching it to their chicks. Secretary chicks easily get used to people.
